| Greg Hands MP | |
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Member of Parliament
for Hammersmith and Fulham |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Iain Coleman |
|---|---|
| Majority | 5,029 (10.2%) |
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| Born | 14 November 1965 New York City, United States |
| Nationality | British and American |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Irina Hundt |
| Alma mater | Robinson College, Cambridge |
Gregory William "Greg" Hands (born 14 November 1965) British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hammersmith and Fulham.
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Early life and career
Greg Hands was born in New York City, the United States, and was educated widely before leaving Dr Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham in 1984 to attend Robinson College, Cambridge where he was awarded a first in modern history in 1989, he also served as the chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association. During his gap year he worked in a swimming pool in Berlin.
He worked on trading floors in the City of London and New York City until 1997.
Early political career
He joined the Conservative Party while a student in Cambridge and was elected as a councillor in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in 1998, he became the leader of the Conservative group in 1999 and remained in that capacity until 2003. He stood down as councillor for the Town Ward in Fulham at the council election in 2006.
Parliamentary career
Hands was elected to the House of Commons at the 2005 General Election when he gained Hammersmith and Fulham from the Labour Party with a majority of 5,029 votes. The sitting Labour MP Iain Coleman retired due to ill health, and was replaced as Labour’s candidate by Melanie Smallman.
The Labour Party accused Hands of scaremongering during the 2005 General Election when he put out election leaflets with the words "Save Charing Cross Hospital" emblazed across them, presenting himself as the only candidate that would save hospital services if elected. The then Health Minister Jane Kennedy said at the time "Charing Cross will not close and the Government are looking at ways to improve the local NHS for our community". The debate continues.
Hands made his maiden speech on 26 May 2005, in which he referred to the fact that the BBC was the largest employer in his constituency, and that Hammersmith Broadway was the busiest road interchange in Europe [1]. He is the Treasurer of the All-Party Russia group. He is a Member of the Conservative Way Forward (CWF) Executive.
Hands has also held a Westminster Hall debate on the Government’s Home Improvement Packs, which he opposed.
In 2007, Hands was selected to be the Conservative candidate for the new Chelsea and Fulham parliamentary constituency. His current seat of Hammersmith and Fulham is being abolished for the next General Election, with Hammersmith having its own seat (being fought by Shaun Bailey for the Conservatives), and Fulham joining Chelsea in a new seat.
He has dual American/British nationality and voted for the defeated McCain/Palin ticket in the 2008 Presidential election. [2]
In January 2009, Hands was appointed to the Conservative front bench team as a Shadow Treasury Minister.
Personal life
He speaks German, French, Czech and Slovak. He married half-German, half-Russian Irina Hundt in July 2005 in his constituency. His daughter, Helena, was born in 2006, and his son, Martin, was born in 2007. The family live in Fulham. He supports Plymouth Argyle FC, but has also been a season ticket holder at Fulham F.C..
External links
- Greg Hands MP official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Greg Hands MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Greg Hands MP
- BBC Politics page
- 'Gazette' local newspaper column written by Greg Hands and other West london MPs
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